The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1887-08-26
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent.
WARRINGTON. d. c.. Aup. oil

FROM our ncRuldr correspondents.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Aug. ed, 1857.
Civil Service Commissioner Edgerton's reply to
the structures of Mr.. Geo. VIM. Curtis on the
civil service system Is all that the true friends of
reform have a right to expect, showing. as 1t
does, that President Cleveland and the Demo-
cratic party have redeemed their pledges in that
vice act 1t Is frankly admitted that more DEM
ocrats than Republicans arc appointed, because
Republican politicians have fostered the false
idea that members of that party had no chance,
thus deterring many from attempting an exami-
nation, while on the other hand Democrats had
nothing to discourage their aspirations. Mr..
Edgerton asserts most positively that the polit-
cal opinions of the candidates for places are not
who pass an examination arc rated in the order
OF merit on the list Of eliRibles. The Democrats
who have criticised the administration for failing
certainly find some comfort in studying the re-
turns of decapitations as made by the postoiIice
department for the past three years. which, as
Horace Greeley would say, will be mighty in
teresting reading" During the last fiscal year
304S offices were established; discontinued 1850 /;
expired. 5,sss; appointments on S' removals and
suspensions. 1854 appointments on change OF
names and sites, Az appointments on deaths of
postmnsters, 5S9; total number of appointments
of postmasters of all grades during the year,
1909; for the years 1885 and 1886 % 47 and 95i7.
respectively, making total of 1873 for the
which think is pretty fair showing from a
purely partisan standpoint. Your correspondent
ueHoses tne poye III Tue trencnes should NIL
the offices.
The great and good work of rccaming public
lands from the graspng and greedy railroad cor
porations. who have forfeited their chartered
rights. still goes on, keeping step to the music of
reform and the rights OF the people. The most
important decision of this kind given in years
was rendered by the Secretary of the Interior, a
few days since, revoking the order of his Repub-
hcan predecessor, which withdrew from settle
ment, under the Presumption and Homestead
laws, the lands conditionaly granted by Congress
10 the Atlantic and Pacific railroad company,
amounting to twenty-five or thirty million acres
OF land In this case alone. The order applies to
several other railroads as well, and it is at
present Impossible TO name the vast number of
acres added to the public domain Every hon
est Western settler will now be moved to toss up
hishat and hands and enthusiastically "hooray''
for Lamar, who thus courageously performs a
great public duty that enshrines his name among
the gods OF their humble households.
The death Of Professor Spencer Y. Baird Sec
rotary OF the Smithsonian Institution, and Com
missioner of Fish and fisheries, is one of the
greatest calamities that could befal the world OF
science. He devoted long and useful life tC
scientific researches and literary labors, and his
works on Natural History and science entitlC
him to rank with Audubon and Agassiz, with
both Of whom he has been associated In theil
favorite fields OF endeavor. Professor Baird wa.
truly q benefactor of his race, for to him thu
people OF tho United States are chiefly indebted
for the upbuilding of the Fish Commission, tn,
propagation of fish in all their waters, and tn,
consequent cheapening Of that excellent article
OF food. G. A. 8.